Toy revolver with labyrinth seal for explosive caps



Dec. 28, 1965 G. FERRI ETAL Filed July 6, 1964 United States PatentOfiice 3,225,480 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 3,225,480 TOY REVOLVER WITHLABYRINTH SEAL FOR EXPLOSIV E CAPS Giampiero Ferri and Jori Marinai,both of Via Stoppani 38, Florence, Italy Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No.380,302 Claims. (Cl. 4258) This invention relates to toy guns, andparticularly, but not exclusively, relates to toy pistols for housingexposive caps in the form of small cups with an explosive charge in thebottom.

It is an object of this invention to provide a toy gun having arotatable cylinder supporting a member having a plurality of firing pinsextending therefrom and which are adapted to receive explosive caps, thecaps being detonated by a hammer, the cylinder together with the firingpins being movable to the side of the gun body so as to permit theexploded caps to be ejected from the pins.

It is a further object of this invention to prevent the flames producedas a result of one cap exploding causing caps on adjacent firing pins tobe exploded.

In order that the invention can be fully understood, one constructionalform thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a cylinder and ejector ina toy gun according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the cylinder and ejector similar to FIG. 1, butshows the ejector protruding to enable the caps to be ejected;

FIG. 3 shows an end view along the plane IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an axial section of the cylinder alone;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section along the plane VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows an axial section of the ejector alone; and

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section along the plane VIIVII of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, a bearing 1 is pivotally and slidablymounted at 1a in order to allow the cylinder 2 to be displaced sidewaysrelatively to the body of the gun. The bearing is integral with a boredspindle or sleeve 1b, the cylinder 2 being rotatably mounted about thisspindle. The cylinder 2 is substantially cylindrical and has a pluralityof openings 3 bored through its periphery parallel to its axis. Thesehousings terminate at the rear side, that is, on the side of the hammer,in a hollow 4. The cylinder 2 has, in addition, a central bore 5 whichterminates in a narrow passage formed by a collar 5a (see in particularFIG. 4). A plurality of projections 6 extend radially inwardly from theperiphery of the cylinder constituting a separating member between oneopen ing 3 and the other. In addition, a bracket 7 protrudes outwardlyinto each opening 3. A plurality of teeth 8 are formed on the rear sideof the cylinder in order centrally to locate this cylinder with respectto the hammer after its release.

Housed in the hollow 4, and slidable along the axis of the cylinder, isan ejector 9 which has a series of radially outwardly extendingprojections 10. Anvils 11 extend axially from the ends of theseprojections and each is adapted to receive a cup-shaped cap. The ejectorhas an annular groove 12 which encircles an axial tubular extension 13.The thickness of this extension is relatively small and its outerdiameter is such as to allow its insertion within the collar 5a.

On its outer surface the ejector 9 has a plurality of teeth 14 forcooperating with a pawl such as shown for example in FIG. 4 of BrubakerPatent No. 2,088,891, for rotating the cylinder each time the hammer isoperated,

the cylinder being drawn by the ejector 9 which engages with it. In thisoperation the projections 10 extend into the passages between theopenings 3 and the central bore of the cylinder so that they are housedbetween the projections 6 and cooperate with them in such a way as tocreate a labyrinth seal, generally indicated by L in FIG. 3. These sealsprevent flames, originated by the explosion of a cap under percussionfrom the hammer, spreading to the adjacent caps.

In correspondence with the projections 10 curved parts 10a are formed,these parts being shaped in such a way that when the ejector 9 isinserted in the hollow 4 the housing is completed around the anvil 11.

A hollow multi-stepped stem 16 is mounted within the spindle 1b to alignwith the cylinder in the firing position. This stern houses a shaft 17which projects beyond the inner extremity of the stem to receive atubular member 18 after the cylinder 2 and ejector 9 have beenassembled. Once assembled, the ejector 9 is housed in the hollow 4, thetubular extension 13 embraces the inner extremity of the stem 16, and aboss on the member 18, supported on the shaft 17, is partially inengagement with the walls of a bore in the ejector 9. Before insertingthe stem 16 and shaft 17, the cylinder 2 and ejector 9 are assembled,and the upstanding rim on the end of the tubular extension 13 isinwardly deformed so as to enable it to be pressed through the collar5a, this collar then preventing the cylinder and ejector from comingapart.

In addition, the stem 16, together with the shaft 17, and the member 18are only permitted to move by an extent determined by the boss on thisspindle and the inner end of the stem 16. With this arrangement, whenthe ejector 9 is housed inside the hollow 4,'the member 18 can eitherlie flush with the end of the ejector 9 or project from this end, asshown in FIG. 1, to locate the cylinder in position in the pistol. Whenthe caps are to be extracted, the member 18 is caused to move fullyinside the ejector 9 and the bearing 1, together with the cylinder, isrotated sideways about its pivot 1a. Subsequently, the stem 16 is pushedinwardly so as to move the member 18 into the position shown in FIGURE 2whence the spent caps are ejected, this movement being limited by therim on the extension 13 abutting the collar 5a.

The whole arrangement is thus constituted by two main parts, namely, thecylinder and the ejector. The flames exhaust readily through theopenings 3 and do not tend to be exhausted towards the adjacent openingsand the path followed by the flames inside the labyrinth L is such as tocause the flames to be extinguished before reaching the vicinity of thenearby caps.

The anvils 11 are sufficiently supported by the brackets 7 and by therear end of the cylinder to ensure explosion of a cap on the appropriateanvil struck by the hammer and resist the shocks caused by the hammer.The various parts may be easily manufactured by means of die casting,the coupling between the parts being obtained by force fits.

We claim:

1. A toy gun comprising a body,

a hammer pivotally mounted on the body,

a cylindrical housing defining a plurality of apertures adjacent itsperiphery,

housing-supporting means mounted on said body for supporting saidhousing for rotational movement, said means being selectively movable,together with said housing, between a first position in said gun bodyand a second position projecting from said gun body,

a plurality of anvils coaxially mounted on said housing for supportingexplosive caps, each said anvil being disposed within one of saidapertures,

means mounted between said hammer and said anvils for successivelyaligning the anvils with said hammer in response to successiveoperations of the hammer,

means projecting inwardly of the outer wall of said housing betweenadjacent apertures,

and means located inwardly of each of said apertures and partiallyencircling said anvils, said latter two means cooperating tosubstantially complete a housing around each anvil and to form alabyrinth seal whereby adjacent caps are shielded from an exploding cap.

2. A toy gun according to claim 1, comprising locking means mountedcoaxially within the cylindrical housing, and

means movable to engage said locking means with the body to locate saidanvils adjacent said hammer in said first position of the supportingmeans and movable to release said locking means from the body and ejectexploded caps from the anvils in the second position of the supportingmeans.

3. A toy gun comprising a body,

a hammer mounted on, and movable with respect to,

said body,

a cylindrical housing having a plurality of apertures adjacent itsperiphery,

supporting means secured to said housing and pivotally mounted on saidbody for selectively moving said housing between a first position insaid gun body and a second position projecting from said gun body,

a sleeve extending coaxially of said housing inwardly of the saidapertures in the housing,

a member mounted for movement along said sleeve and having a likeplurality of anvils on one end of said member for supporting explosivecaps, said anvils being disposed within said apertures,

combination locking and ejecting means coaxially mounted for movementwithin said supporting means for locking together said supporting meansand the body to locate the anvils adjacent the hammer in said firstposition, and for ejecting exploded caps from the anvils in said secondposition,

anvil advancing means mounted on said body and cooperable with saidhammer and said member for successively aligning the anvils with saidhammer in response to successive movements of the hammer to explode thecaps,

means projecting inwardly of the outer wall of said housing betweenadjacent apertures,

and means located inwardly of each of said apertures and partiallyencircling said anvils, said latter two means cooperating tosubstantially complete a housing around each anvil and to form alabyrinth seal whereby adjacent caps are shielded from an exploding cap.

4. A toy gun according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of teethformed on said one end of the member, said advancing means comprising apawl for engaging with one of the teeth in response to each movement ofthe hammer to rotate the anvils.

5. A toy gun comprising a body, a hammer pivotally mounted on the body,a cylindrical housing having a plurality of apertures adjacent itsperiphery, bearing means mounted on said body for supporting saidhousing for rotational movement, said bearing means being selectivelymovable, together with said housing, between a first position in saidgun body and a second position projecting from said gun body, a sleeveextending inwardly of the periphery of said cylindrical housing andcoaxial therewith, a member mounted on said sleeve, said member having aplurality of axially extending anvils for supporting explosive caps,each of said anvils being disposed within one of said apertures,

locking means coaxial with, and mounted for movement in, the cylindricalhousing,

means movable to engage the locking means with the body to locate saidanvils adjacent said hammer in said first position of the housing,

means mounted for cooperation between said hammer and said member forsuccessively aligning the anvils with said hammer in response tosuccessive operations of the hammer,

means projecting inwardly of the outer wall of said housing betweenadjacent apertures,

means located inwardly of each of said apertures and partiallyencircling said anvils, said latter two means cooperating tosubstantially complete a housing around each anvil and to form alabyrinth seal whereby adjacent caps are shielded from an exploding cap,

and means movable to release the locking means from the body and ejectexploded caps from said anvils in the second position of the bearingmeans.

6. A toy gun according to claim 5, wherein said means for successivelyaligning the anvils comprises a pawl movable by said hammer, said membercomprising a plurality of teeth engageable by said pawl.

7. A toy gun according to claim 5, wherein said cylindrical housingcomprises a plurality of brackets extending into each of said aperturesand aligned with said anvils for resisting axial movement of said memberwhen a cap is exploded.

8. A toy gun for exploding cup type explosive caps comprising a body,

a hammer pivotally mounted on the body,

a cylindrical housing with a front end and with a rear end having a rearcavity therein and a plurality of apertures adjacent its peripherybetween said cavity and said front end,

first radially projecting extensions towards the interior in said cavitybetween adjacent apertures to form cap housing radially communicatingwith said cavity,

supporting means mounted on said body to support said housing forrotational movement, said supporting means being selectively movabletogether with said housing between a first closed position and a secondopen position of the gun,

a sleeve extending into the interior of the periphery of saidcylindrical housing and coaxial therewith,

a member mounted on said sleeve, said member having a plurality ofsecond outwardly radially extending projections,

each said second projection being provided with an anvil axially andrearwardly extending to support an explosive cap therein,

said member being accommodated in said rear cavity of said cylindricalhousing,

each of said second projections being included between sets of adjacentfirst projections to substantially complete said cap housings so as toform a labyrinth between each cap housing and the adjacent cap housingsto shield adjacent caps from any exploding cap,

each of said anvils being arranged in alignment with one of saidapertures within the respective cap houslocking means coaxial with thecylindrical housing and mounted for movement therein,

movable means to engage said locking means with the body to locate saidanvils adjacent said hammer in said first position of the supportingmeans,

means mounted for cooperation between said hammer and said member forsuccessively aligning the anvils with said hammer in response tosuccessive operations of the hammer,

5 6 and means movable to release the locking means from of saidapertures and aligned with said second projections the body and toaxially slide said member and eject of said member and with said anvilsto resist axial moveexploded caps from said cap housings in the secondment of said member when a cap is exploded. open position. 9. A toy gunas recited in claim 8, wherein two first 5 References Cited by theExamine! adjacent projections from a first portion of a cylindrical U ISTATES PA N wall defining the cap housing and wherein each of saidsecond projections is provided with a second portion of s m acylindrical wall spaced from the respective anvil, said elmercylindrical wall portion completing the cap housing 10 EI N PATENTaround the anvil with the first portion of the cylindrical 501 15 1 54Italy wall formed by the pair of first projections, between 588:5362/1959 Italy. which said second projection is included. 53 9 6 2 1959Italy 10. A toy gun as in claim 8, wherein said cylindrical housingincludes a plurality of brackets extending in each 15 EN BORCHELT,Primary Examiner-

1. A TOY GUN COMPRISING A BODY, A HAMMER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE BODY,A CYLINDRICAL HOUSING DEFINING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES ADJACENT ITSPERIPHERY, HOUSING-SUPPORTING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BODY FOR SUPPORTINGSAID HOUSING FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT, SAID MEANS BEING SELECTIVELYMOVABLE, TOGETHER WITH SAID HOUSING, BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN SAIDGUN BODY AND A SECOND POSITION PROJECTING FROM SAID GUN BODY, APLURALITY OF ANVILS COAXIALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING FOR SUPPORTINGEXPLOSIVE CAPS, EASCH SAID ANVIL BEING DISPOSED WITHIN ONE OF SAIDAPERTURES, MEANS MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID HAMMER AND SAID ANVILS FORSUCCESSIVELY ALIGNING THE ANVILS WITH SAID HAMMER IN RESPONSE TOSUCCESSIVE OPERATIONS OF THE HAMMER, MEANS PROJECTING INWARDLY OF THEOUTER WALL OF SAID HOUSING BETWEEN ADJACENT APERTURES, AND MEANS LOCATEDINWARDLY OF EACH OF SAID APERTURES AND PARTIALLY ENCIRCLING SAID ANVILS,SAID LATTER TWO MEANS COOPERATING TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE A HOUSINGAROUND EACH ANVIL AND TO FORM A LABYRINTH SEAL WHEREBY ADJACENT CAPS ARESHEILDED FROM AN EXPLODING CAP.